June 2002
Renewing Your Mind Through Prayer
By Germaine Copeland
The Amplified Bible states that you have the mind of Christ and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart (1 Corinthians 2:16). I believe this is a call for Christian believers to evaluate our attitudes and mind-sets.
Negative thought patterns and harmful opinions are molded by childhood perceptions, and by a powerful world system that seeks to dominate the thinking of men and women. Fortunately, you can renew your mind to the mind of Christ. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2 NIV).
We build mental walls, or strongholds, to protect and defend our flawed mind-sets; we want everyone to accommodate themselves to our beliefs for our comfort. Our prayers are formed by self-will, not God’s will. If we commit our plans to Him, He will cause our thoughts to be agreeable to His will. He will reveal Himself to us, and correct us in His love and mercy.
Psalm 19 is an effective prayer, But how can I ever know what sins are lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. And keep me from deliberate wrongs; help me to stop doing them. Only then can I be free of guilt and innocent of some great crime. May my spoken words and unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer.
Praying Scriptural prayers is a powerful tool that transforms the way we think. With the help of the Holy Spirit our prayers will renew our thinking. As a man thinks in his heart so is he. I am reminded of the children’s story about the little engine that wanted to go uphill. Each time he was tempted to quit, he said aloud, “I think I can, I think I can.” And he did!
So often we blunder along trying to fix everybody around us, and we wonder why our prayers are not answered. We are focused on our will, our wants, desires and needs, rather than His will and His desires.
In order to make God’s will the focus of prayer, you must know his will, plans, purposes and his thoughts. These are revealed in his Word. Read your Bible, and study His desires. Meditate on his Word and be still so that you can hear Him. He uses spiritual words to instill positive victorious thinking and living.
You also have to pray. Prayer is simply talking to God. He is your best Friend. Tell him how you feel even though he already knows. Relating your feelings, hurts, needs and troublesome issues aloud will be of great benefit if you will take time for the Holy Spirit to help you process your feelings. In my own experience, I couldn’t change myself. Praying Scriptural prayers changed my life. Change comes from the inside out, and you can succeed if you believe.
The Holy Spirit will teach you how to overcome fear, depression and other negative emotions. He will show you how to develop healthy relationships, teach you how to establish boundaries, rather than walls of emotional isolation. You will grow not only spiritually, but also emotionally and mentally, and live in a more mature and godly manner, reflecting the life of Jesus. And the peace of God that passes all understanding will keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
The written prayers in the Prayers That Avail Much® family series are powerful, and will become an effective part of your thought patterns as you meditate on the scriptures woven into each prayer. With a renewed mind you will pray according to the will, purpose and plan of God. You can pray Prayers That Avail Much®!
Prayer
Father, in the name of Jesus I submit to your Word, which judges the thoughts and attitudes of my heart. I renounce negative thinking and fix my mind on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Thank you for the Holy Spirit who is my Helper. Amen
Germaine Copeland is the author of the best selling book series, Prayers That Avail Much. She has written scriptural prayers for the family. Read your Bible, pray and attend church where you can soak up the love and faith of God. You will receive emotional healing, experience spiritual growth and become more intimately acquainted with your Heavenly Father, and your relationships will grow stronger.